New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-06
THE SIDE OF THE SALOON.

THE SIDE or 1HE odLOON.
The side Of the Saloon was presented in the
hearing before the Governor at Albany on
Monday, and curious middle of contradictions
the argument for it proved to be. The liquor
interest had marshalled its kecncst men, had
brought ND its legal advisers, had made all
manner of preparations had excrted itself to
produce the strongest possible showing against
the High License bill (; and after all it could
say nothing which was not sclf-dcstructive
because of its manifest and hopeless cntangle-
ncnt. Tho so-callcd argument of the Saloon
can only be illencd 10 that of the man who,
Icing charged with borrowing neighbours
washtub and returning it in loalsy condition,
defended himself by averring % that he did
not borrow the washtub; (2) that he returned
it in good order; (3) that it leaked when he
borrowed it. In like manner the representa-.
lives of the Saloon at Albany commended w
that High License would not decrease The
number of saloons (2) that it would drive
ont Of the business one in five saloons; (3)
that il would not diminish the amount of liquor
sold az that it would deprive the poor man OF
his LIQUOR; % that it would not reduce the
quantity of liquor Sold (6) that it would
shut up and destroy saloon property to the
value of $4,000, 900 in Brooklyn alone.
So according 10 their own statement the
liquor men object to the bill because 1t will
reduce tho number of saloons. and because 1t
will not because it will reduce the consumption
of LIQUOR and because it will not; because 1t
can he enforced. and because 1t cannot ; because
H. will not diminish drunkenness, and because
if will. Was it worth whilo TO arrange a
formal solemn hearing before the Governor In
order to put all this gibberish on record !
We're the liquor men so thoroughly assured OF
the Governors intention to veto the Crosby
bill that they could afford to treat the matter
in a spirit Of burlesquc7 Have they. per
chance. so profound a contempt Tor puoho
opinion rs 10 conclude that the 1atuous ana
imbccile allegations brought into such mutually
destructive juxtaposition on this occasion were
unite good enough matter whcrcwith to meet
the representatives of the decent elements OF
soccty9 We do not think this was the case
The liouor-mcn arc thick headed. no doubt
but they arc not so silly as that The rational
explanation of the extraordinary lameness ana
futility Of their arguments is that they really
had nothing more TO the purpose TO present
The plain truth is that there Is no valid defence
10 the position they occupy, and no valid OBJ
lection TO the High-License bill and out oil
the mouths of those it's enemies can be drawn
dozen admissions. every one Of which is CO
gent enough 10 settle the conviction of an
honest Executive.
The Saloon men say that the Crosby bill will
deprive the poor man of his liquor. Very well.
That is. il true, a reason for enactlng IL, Tor
liquor is the poor mans worst enemy; 1T Is
the curse which keeps him poor, which plungcs
him in misery, which prevents him from rising
in the world, which claps rags on his back ana
the backs Of his family, which strips him OF
bodily and mental strength and capacity which
makes a loafcr and sot Of him too often,
which blasts his whole life, in short To de-
priye him of this. according to the liquor-mcn,
is cruel. unjust, wrong Society can stand a
great deal of this kind Of injustice, and VIII
have to if it Is to get rid Of tho swarning evils
which the Saloon has produced. But the liquor
men saw the High License bill cannot be en-
forced. Indeed Why. then. should they op-
pose it so strcnuouslyf They say 1t will be
cvaded successfully. II they believe that why
do they fight iii No. The obvious truth Is
that they fear it because they perceive its
effectiveness. and they talk nonsense about Its
probable effects because sense cannot DC In
vokcd on behalf Of the liquor traffic But
surely more pitiful showing was never made
for an interest which has attained such great
proportions which has usurpcd such important
functions; which exercises so widespread and
evil an influence on the community. 1t has
literally nothing TO say for itself and yet there
Is TOO much ground for fearing that it is safe
without argument. in the shetcring arms OF
Governor who cares too much for the Saloon
in Politics to interfere with its work in society.